Machine for separating, counting, and delivering sheet material



Oct. 11, 1938.

o. E. woLFF MACHINE FOR SEPARATING, COUNTING. AND 'DELIVERING SHEET MATERIAAL 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 8, 1936 Oct. 11, 1938. ojE. woLr-'F Y 2,133,264 y MACHINE FORr SEPARATING, CUNTING, AND DELIVERING SHEET MATERIAL Oct. 11, 1938. o. E. wou-'F 2,133,264

MACHINE FOR SEPARATING, COUNTING, AND DELIVERING lSHEET MATERIAL Fild oct. e, 193ee sheets-sheet -s l l l l l l o-O :71| J ...9 DI -o D:

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/ ray n. .aww www .QN NW W F E@ EEE..- L@ 6 Oct. 1l, 1938. Q E WQLFF f 2,133,264"` MACHINE FOR SEPARATING COUNTING, AND DELIVERING SHEET MATERIAL l Filed oct. 8, 1956 e sheets-she@ 4 l .12. ff M z/f 2/3 Z7 4/3 42.5 4?/ f Oct. 11, 1938. o. E. woLFF 2,133,264 MACHINE FOR SEPARATING, COUNTING; AND DELIVKERING SHEET NIA'IERIAT.;

Filed oct. 8, `19:56 e sheetsfsheet 5.

o. E. woLFF A 2,133,264 MACHINE FOR SEPARATING, `COUII'IIG, AND DELIVERING SHEET MTERIALY Filed oct. e, 1936 e sheets-snee@ "e kan Patented Oct. 1l, 1938 MACHINE FOR 2,133,261 SEPARATING, ooUN'rING. l

mme 1 AND DELIVERING SHEET otto Edward wom, Belmont, Mass., assigner, by mesne assignments, to Paul S. Bauer, Belmont, Mass., trustee of the R. S. Bauer Trust Application October 8, 1936, Serial No. 104,628V

`11 claims. (oies-93) j The present invention relates to means for handling sheet material, and more particularly such sheet material as newspapers and periodicals.

As newspapers, for example, are delivered from the press, they are collected into bundles containing the proper number to be forwarded to the various newsdealers, and the bundlesare then usually wrapped ink preaddressed wrappers. These operations have heretofore been performed partly or wholly by hand.

An object of the present invention is to provide a new machine for automatically performing several or all of the various operations of Vseparating the newspapers or othersheet material, counting them out, and delivering the -counted objects.

A further object isto provide novel mechanism for performing anyv or all of the above-described operations.

'I'he present invention relates also to counting machines, and more particularly to machines for counting newspapers or other sheets.

It is desirable, in newspaper printing, to count automatically the number of papers` actually reaching themaillng room from the press room. Such proposals as have heretofore been made for automatic counting of the newspapers, in the condition that they reach the press room, have not, however, proved sa.tisfactory,'so` that they are still counted by human attendants. This is inaccurate and relatively slow.`

Another object of the invention, therefore, is to provide a new and improved counter for sheets, like newspapers.

With this end in view, a feature of the invention, if the sheets are fairly regularly spaced and positioned, resides in the use of a simple finger 'or other contact member that is positioned at a predetermined point and is arranged to ride over the sheets, as they are fed under it by the conveyor. The finger controls a contact member or members to control an electric circuit for operating a counter. This control may, for example, be eifected through a relay for a counter magnet. Another object is to provide a novel machine the purpose of which is to permit the grouping'or stacking of a predetermined number 'of the objects.

Still another object is tov provide a conjunction with a selecting device.

vThe present invention relates also to sheetfeeding-and-counting machines, and more particularly to machinesV for counting sheets or bundles of sheets. This feature of the invention has particular vapplication to the counting of counter in newspapers,- 'either as they come from the press, or 'returned newspapers, magazines and the like, butY is applicable also-to other articles, like paper sheets. y

Other and'further objects will be explained hereinafter, and will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims. Y

The invention4 will now be explained in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of amachine embodying' the present invention in its preferred form; Fig.' v2 isanend view of the selector-and-address mechanism embodied in the machine' ofFig. l; Fig. 3 is a vertical section. taken upon the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 4 is a vertical section of the selector mechanism, taken upon the line 4 4 of'Figx5,"looking to the left, in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken upon the line 5 5 of Fig. 4, looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 6 is a corresponding end view, looking f rom the right of Fig. 5,' Fig. 7 kis a plan of an address plate; Fig. 8 is a vertical section taken upon the line 8 8 of Fig; 3, butupon larger scale, looking in the'direction of the'arrowsFig. 9 is a vertical section taken uponl the line 9 9 of Fig. 8, looking in n the direction of the arrows; Fig. 10 is' a detail view of the mechanism'shown in Fig. 9, but upon a larger scale; Fig. 11 is a horizontal sectiontaken upon the line Il l'l of Fig. 3, but upon a larger scale, looking downward in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 12 is a circuit diagram ofthe selector; Fig. 13 is a lsection taken upon the line |3 I3 of Fig. 5, looking to the right, in the direction of 'the arrows; Fig. 14 is a modification of the mechanism shown at the right of Fig. 1; Fig. l5 is a similar view, with the parts indifferent position; and Fig. 16 is a horizontal section taken upon the linek I6 i,6 of Fig. 14, looking downward in the direction of the arrows, but upon a larger scale', the newspaperv stack being omitted, for clearness.

A plurality of newspapers -or other sheets v2 are shown in Fig. 1 in lapped relation,v upon inclined continuously traveling conveyor belts 3, mounted over pulleys 14. The left-hand ends (as shown vin Fig. 1)- of the inclined conveyor belts 3 may be disposed adjacent to a newspaper press, a stack of newspapers, another conveyor 62, or any other source of supply of newspapers. The belts 3 receive the newspapers 2 from the source of supply and feed them under a lower projecting finger of an inclinedly disposed shield wall 5, disposed in the path of travel of the Wall II.

papers, just beyond the right-hand ends mathe conveyor belts 2, into a hopper 229, between the wall l and a similarly inclinediy disposed shield The shield wall I| is also disposed in the path of travel of the papers. Though the machine is shown in connection with newspapers, preferably .fed with one of the edges 1 forward, it will be understood that other sheet material, such as magazines and other periodicals, may also be treated in this machine, or parts thereof and the"terms newspaper," paper, sheet" and the like will, therefore, to avoid circumlocution of language, be often employed in the specification and the claims, in this generic sense, except where the context or the state of the art may require otherwise. i

If the hopper 229 is empty, the newspapers 2 are conveyed thereinto by the conveyor 2, under the shield wall 5, and on to a conveyor that is disposed at the bottom of the hopper 222, constituted of inclinedly disposed continuously traveling belts 9. The belts 9 are spaced slightly below the shield wall I I, but the space or gap or opening between them may be blocked or closed, as hereinafter described. The number of belts 9 may be four, with spaces between them. They pass over idler rols |99. I

As the first newspaper 2 is delivered by the conveyor belts 2 into the hopper k229, itis carried by the belts `9 forward, or toward the right, as viewed in Fig. 1. When the said space or opening between the shield wall II and the belts 9 is'blocked or closed, this first newspaper r2 will engage the shield wall I I, so that the further progress of this first newspaper 2 will be temporarily blocked. 'I'he second newspaper 2 is `similarly carriedforward, to the right, on top o! the first newspaper 2, until its further progress is similarly blocked. The third newspaper 2 is similarly carried forward, to the-right, on top of the second newspaper, into similar engagement with the wall II, andsoon. Y

The conveyor 2 continues thus to feed the kpapers 2, in superposed relation, into the hopper 229, until the level of the stack ofpapers thus accumulated therein is high enough to touch the bottom projecting finger of the shield 9, as shown more particularly in Fig. 1. As no more sheets can then be fedpast the shield 9, the level of papers on the belts 2 in the hopper 229, and their consequent weight upon the belts 9, will be practically constant. I

When the said space between Athe shield wall and the belts 9 becomes opened, as will be explained more fully hereinafter, vthe conveyor belts 9 will feed the lowermost newspapers 2 in the hopper 229 forward, under the shield II and into the space outside, to the right of the hopper 229, as viewed in Fig. 1. l The next-lowest paper will then be similarly` fed out of the hopper, and so on.y The shield wall |I may be made adjustable to regulate the said space between the finger I9 and the belts 9, thereby to control the number of newspapers 2 passing thereunder at any one time. A

After the papers have thus been caused to travel out of the hopper 229, they are fed further forward toward a table 9| on which they become accumulated in theform of a stack 99. During the feeding of thepapers out of the hopper 229, and before they reach the table 9|, they are counted. As each newspaper 2 advances from left to right, as viewed in Fig. 1, out of the hopper 229, its forward edge 1 engages, and passes under, a counting finger I2,

illustrated more particularly in Figs. 1 and 3. above the right-hand portions of the belts 9.

Each raising and lowering of the counting finger I2 will result in registering a count, as will be hereinafter explained, to indicate that another newspaper 2 has been conveyed by the conveyor belts 9 from out of the hopper 229 and stacked on the table 9|.

After leaving the counting finger I2, the papers 2 are fed into the bite between vertically disposed continuously traveling lift belts I1 and 2| of a conveyor, the delivery end of which feeds the newspaper 2, as they are received from the hopper 229, vertically upward. The conveyor belts I1 pass over a lower pulley or roll 51, a discharge pulley or roll 21, and smaller pulleys or rolls 2|, 45 and 41. The conveyor belts 2| pass over the .pulley 21, an intermediately disposed pulley 99, and an idler pulley 22. To maintain tension in the belts 2|, the idler pulley 22 is free to move in a vertically disposed arc at the end of arms I9I pivoted to the frame of the machine at |92. Y

In order to maintain the point of delivery of the papers 2 above the topmost paper of the stack 99, the said delivery end of the conveyor, including the upper portions of the belts I1 and 2|, and the rolls 21 and 2|, is disposed above `the belts 9 and the table 9|.`Y

The discharge pulleys or rolls 21 and 2| are carried by arm members 21 that are freely movable` vertically. In this vertical movement, they are guided by wheels 4I5, that are carried by the arm members 21, so as to roll on a vertically disposed track of a supporting column 42|.

Upon reaching the bite between the conveyor belts I1 and 2|, the papers are turned upward,

` around the large pulley 51, and toward and over the pulley 21. Each paper 2 is then fed from above thetable 9|, at the left thereof, as viewed in Fig. 1, at a downward incline, on to the top of the stack 99 accumulated on the table 9|. During this downwardly inclined feeding, the

papers travel over a downwardly inclined guide 29, and under downwardly inclined guide arms or members-55, toward and against stops, constituted of integrally bent portions 59 of the guide members 95. 'Ihe bent portions 99 project downward, so as to be engaged by the forward edges 1 of the newspapers, thus hunting the further travel of the papers. 'I'he newspapers thus become successively deposited on the top of the stack 99 on the table 9|, each on top of the previously deposited paper 2, in engagement with the stops 99. The stack 99 rises higher and higher as the newspapers are successively conveyed thereto, until the desired number of newspapers, as determined by the count of the counting finger I2, has been collected in the stack 99. The guide members 55 constitute part of the elevator assembly that moves up with the discharge pulleys or rolls 21 and 2| as the height of the stack 99 increases.

The guide members 55 are respectively, clis-` posed at opposite sides of the center of the'stack 99 of the papers, and predetermine the position occupied by the stack 99 on the table 9|. To equalize the pressure exerted by them on the uppermost sheet of the stack 99, these two guide members 69 may be separated by a yoke 49 that is pivoted at to an arm 4|. The guide mem- -bers 99 are thus always maintained in` proper position for guiding the papers'to the top arm 4|, thefreely movable rolls 21 and 8| and the arm members 31 by which they are carried, the upper portion of the conveyor 2|, and related parts are vautomatically raised vertically.' in accordance with the height of the stack 89. This is effected by the impact of the papers, passing under the guides 55, in opposition to the force 'of gravity. 'I'he weight of theiparts normally maintainsv the guide arms 55 yieldingly in engagement with the top of the stack 89 and pressing yieldingly downward thereon. To reduce the upward force which the papers must exert in order to lift lthe guide members 5,5 higher and higher as they travel thereunder, a counterweight |44 is connected to the members 31 by cords 422, running over pulleys |3| and |29.

The idler pulley 23 and related parts move up and down with the delivery end of the conveyor |1,A2|. The lowermost positions of the pulleys 21 and 3| and the arms |0| with the idler pulley 23are indicated in Fig. 1 by dotted lines.

At such times as the said space under the shield wall II and above the belts 9 is blocked, so as to stop the further feed of the newspapers 2 out of `the hopper 339, it is desirable that the continuously traveling belts 9 do not engage the lowermost newspaper 2 in the hopper 339. Provision is, therefore, made for lifting the stack of newspapers in the hopper 339 up, out of contact with the belts 9, in synchronism with the movements of the other parts of the machine. The mechanism for bringing this about will now be described. Y

A table I2 is constituted of a plurality of bar supports respectively disposed' between the belts 9. 'I'hese bar supports are rigidly secured together, in a. common frame-work, to a pivotally mounted rod |25. The table I2 normally occupies an ineffective position, belowthe surface of the plurality of belts of the conveyor 9. In this ineffective position,`the table I2 does not interfere with the feeding of the newspapers 2 by the belts 9 out of the hopper 339, through the said space under the shield wall II. Upon the completion of a cycle of operations, immediately after every feeding of the desired predetermined number of papers 2 out of the hopper 339, the table I2 is raised pivotally as a unit about the rod |25, from its normally ineffective position, up between the belts 9, into its effective position. 'I'his may be brought about in any desired manner, as by a half-revolution of a cam |05. Itis this raising of the table I2 that results in blocking the :said gap or space under the shield wall II, thus stopping the further feed of the papers out of the hopper 339 below the shield vIt results also, however, in lifting the newspapers 2 up o the belts 9, so that the belts 9 could not further convey the newspapers out of thehopper 339 even if the said `space were not blocked. Upon the lowering of the table I2 from its effective `position, above the belts 9, to its ineffective position, below these belts, the feeding of the papers 2 out of the hopper 339 by the belts" 9 recommences, and the machine goes through another cycle`r of operations.

The raising of the table I2, upon the completion of'each cycle of operations, is automatically effected by the cam |05, in synchronism with the operation of the rest of the machine. It is similarly automatically lowered at the commencement of a new cycle of operations. The circuits for effecting this result will be described hereinafter. 'I'he cam |05, which thus controls the feed ofthe papers below the shield II, is controlled by an electromagneticcoil 22| that may be operjated in the same manner as other electromag-` netic coils described at considerable length in application, v Serial No. 43,928, `filedOcltob'er 7,

lowering of the table I2 by gravity, 4whereupon the vfeeding of the papers y2 out of the hopper 339 bythe beltsrecommenc'es.

If the papers are fed forward with'a folded end leading, they 'naturally arrive on the table 9| in the same way. When the correct number of papers, twenty-ve as an illustration, have been so fed and stacked on the tablel 9|, the table I2` is raised to stop the nifeed of additional papers, the guide arms 55. are likewiseraised, and the table and the stack thereon turned al half revolution, in order to alternate the folded edges, by means of a shaft 9,5 ,on which the table. 9| is supported. The guide arm'sr55 are then dropped, soas to become restored in eilective'position, the table I2 is lowered and the feed of the papers is resumed, resulting in a reversed positionof th newspapers on the stack.

To effect the raising of the guide arms 55, a.

lug |58 on onearm of a bell crank |55 is" moved.

up against the cord `422 upon` the downward movement of the connecting rod that is connected to the other arm ro1' the bell crank. The lug ,I58`is provided with frictional materiaithat binds rricnionauy against the cord 422 as the 111g |58 is moved upward, thus pulling the cord 422 upward and to the left, therebycausing the 'raising of the guide arms and the parts attached thereto.

A `modified structure is illustrated in Figs. 14 to 16, as hereinafter explained,

To tum the tame sl, "a han .revolution is ,er-

fected, in timed relationto the operations above:

described, of `a shaft 428 on which there is mounted a crank429 connectedwith Lone end of a connecting rod 430. The other end of the connecting rod 430 is provided with a rack 43| thatl meshes with a gear 432 secured to the shaft 95. The face `of the gear 432 is wide enough so that it will still be in mesh with lthe rack 43| when the table' 9|l is in its lowermost position, as presently to be described. Foruevery half-revolution of the shaft 428, obviously,v the shaft 95 will be. turned through a half revolution; and when the shaft 428 is returned to its original position, the shaft 95 will likewise bereturnedto vits original position. These half-revolutions will beeffected at the end of the feeding ofv the papers2 in groups of twenty-'five or any other desired number. i

`To remove the stack of sheets, the table 9| is lowered below elongated rolls 523, which kyare turned from a shaft 425 by belts 426 and pulleys 424. To this end, the table 9| may be constituted of parallelly disposed slats alternating in position withv the positionsof the rolls 523, so that the slats may be lowered below the rolls 523 inthe spaces between'these rolls. When the level of the tableV 9| is thus lowered 'under that of the tops of the rolls 523, thel papers 2, being thus lowered Yso into contact with the moving 'rolls 523, are moved by them oil the table and on to a table (not shown) at the side of the machine, eitherl in front of or behind the plane of the papers, as

viewed in Fig.` 1. The table 0| is lowered by rotation of` a cam 60 engaging againstla'follower 421 at the lower end of the shaft 06.

The wrapping paper is fed intermittently from a roll or reel of 'wrapping` paper 261 that is mounted to turnupon a spindle or rod |20, disposed at the left-hand side of the machine, and a little tothe left of the hopper 330,`as viewed in Fig. 1. vFrom the roll 201 the wrapping-paper web |22 rises substantially vertically to a guide roll 211, over which it passes to the right, over a platen |26 and under a backing plate 3|3 of the addressing mechanism. As will be explained hereinafter, the platen |26 is intermittently moved upward to force the interposed wrappingpaper web |22 against `a type-backed ribbon 3I| between the web |22 and an address plate 205. Different address plates 205 will thus produce diierent addresses and other insignia upon the web 22.

At a suitable moment, the portion of the web |22 thus addressed is fed forward, to the right, between feed rolls 20| and 200, the former of which is larger than the latter', and may be constituted of rubber, while the latter may be constituted of metal. One vrevolution of the feed roll 20| about its shaft 32| results in feeding the required length of wrapper from` the reel 261. Such revolution of the feed roll 20| `will be produced after a predetermined degree; of rotation of the shaft 306, as will be explained later.` The web |22 is fed between a cutter bed 200 and a cutter roll 290; and, over a guide 209 (Fig. 3'), to the belts 3. At the completion of the revolution of the feed roll 20|, the cutter roll 200 is actuated, in synchronism 'with the other movements of the machineparts, to make one revolution, thereby severing the addressed wrapper or snipe" from the remainder of the web |22.

The papers passing under the finger |3 (Fig. 3) close contact members 34| to make a circuit which energizes an electromagnet 325 to turn a ratchet wheel 323 one tooth for each paper. The ratchet wheel 323 is fixed to a shaft 2| I, which extends into the frame of the selector |03. The electromagnet 325 actuates an amature 320 connected with a springfcontrolled intermediately pivoted double pawi 321 for actuating the counter ratchet wheel 323 to count the sheets yfeci by the vconveyor 9 out of the hopper 339. One of the teet of the 'pawl is held normally in engagement with a ratchet tooth of the ratchet wheel 323 by a spring, but is adapted to be rocked, in one direction, out of contact therewith, in opposition to the action of the spring, by the magnetic ileld of the coil 325. The other tooth'of the pawl wi11, at the same time, become moved into engagement Lwith another tooth of the ratchet wheel 323, thereby effecting one step of movement of the counter. Upon the opening of the circuit of the coil 325, th'e spring will rock the pawl 321 in the opposite direction, to cause the said other tooth to disengage the ratchet wheel, and the iirst-namedr tooth to reengage the ratchet wheel, thereby effecting a further step of movement of the ratchet wheel. The pawl thus moves like an ordinary escapement, its two teeth engaging the teeth of the ratchet wheel alternately to effect step-by-step movement of the ratchet wheel.. The shaft 2|| rotates a contact arm 2|3 (Figs. 4 to 6) over a circular row of contact members 2|5, so as to engage these contact members 2|5 successively. `'I'he connection of the ,arm 2|3 to the shaft 2|| is through a disc clutch 235, which is pressed, by a' spring 406, against an intermittent gear member 250 (Fig. 13) that is fixed to the contact larm2|3. The gear member253 is so arranged'with reference to a train of gears 400, 403 and 40| that it moves a contact arm 2|1'from one contact point 2|3 of a circular `row of contact members 2| 5 to the next as the arm `2|3 completes each revolution. The gears 400 and 403 are integrally connected together, the former meshing with the gear member 250 and the latter with the gear 40|. The

gear 40| is mounted upon a shaft 401 that drives the contact arm 2|1 frictionally in .the same manner that the shaft 2| drives the contact arm 2|3 frictionally through the same kind of clutch 235, pressed by a spring 405 against an intermittent gear member 220 to which the contact With twenty-five contactA members 2|5, numbered 0 to 24 in Fig. l2, and all of which may be successively closed in the course ofone revolution of the arm 2|3, the movement of the shaft 2|| between any two contact members 2|5,-the 24th and 25th contact members, for example,- will cause the aforesaid movement of the contact arm 2|1 from one contact member 2|9 to the next contact member 2l0. Thirteen contact members 2|! are shown in Fig. 12, marked 0, 25, 50, '15, 100, 125, 150, 175, 200, 225, 250, 275 and 300.

The circuits of the contact members 2|5 and 2| 9, respectively, are further 4controlled by previously closed pairs of contact members 206, 201 under the control of lugs 20| on an address plate 205. v

As shown arbitrarily, there are twenty-five pairs of contact'members 206, numbered 0 to 24 in Fig. 12, and thirteen pairs of contact members 201, marked 0, 25, 50, 75, 100, 125, 150, 175, 200, 225, 250, 275 and 300 in the same Fig. 12. The maximum count of the unit row 206, therefore, isk 24, Athe 25th and its multiples being counted off on the group row 201. Of course, any number may be applied to each row, but in the case of newspapers, 25 is convenient as they are Yturned in groups of 25 or multiples of 25.

Vone of the sets of contact members 206 (Fig. 12)

and each of the contact members 2|9 is wired to one of the sets of contact members 201. For example, the first or 0 contact 'member 215 is connected by a conductor 4|3 with the first,l or 0 pair of contact members 206; the second or 1 contact member`2|5 by a conductor 4|5 with the second or 1 pair of contact members 206; the

'third or 2 contact member 2|5 by a conductor 4|1 with the third or 2 pair of contact members 206; and so on; the last or 24 contact member 2|5 being connected by a conductor 4|9 with the last or 24 pair of contact members 206. The first or 0 contact member 2|1 is\similarly connected tact members 215; thence, by way of by a conductor 421 with the first or 0 pair of contact members 201; .the second or 25 contact member 213 by a conductor 423 with thesecond or 25 pair of contact members 201; the third or 50 contact member 211 by a conductor 425with the third or50 pair of contact members 201; and so on; the last or 300 contact member 219being connected bya conductor 421 with the last or 300 pair of contact members 201.

There are two lugs 201 on `each address plate 205, one on each side (Fig. '1) They are manually adjustable lto any of a plurality of positions along scales 409 and 411 at thev sides of the address plate for the purpose of closing any desired pair of contact members 206 and any desired pair of contact members 201, thus to count out a desired -number of papers, as will presently be explained. The divisions of the lower scale 411 are units of 25, and the divisions of the upper scale 409 correspond to individual counts. These lugs 201 are so arranged on the plate205 that, when the plate 205 is moved into position under the two rows of contact members 206, 201, one of the lugs 201 will close a pair of contact members 206 and the other lug 201 a pair of contact members 201. Which two contact members 206 or 201 will be closed by the respective lugs 201 depends on the position of the lugs 201 on the ad: dress plate 205, and the lugs 201 are manually actuable selectively toany desired position.

-The position of the lugs 201A on the address plate determines, therefore, the place on the rows of contact members 215 and 219 where vthe simultaneous contacts of the arms y213 and 211 will eifect a closing of the circuit. This circuit, as beforestated, isthrough the electromagnetic rmechanism 221, which stops` the feed of the papers past the shield 11,-thereby rendering the feeding means k9 ineffective at the endof the feeding of. a predetermined number4 of the sheets 2. f

The electric system is normally lneiectlve to energize .the coil 221, though the lower contact members 206 and.201 are continuously connected into circuit,.in series with a source of energy, such as a battery 431. The circuit extends fromthe battery 431, through the coil 221, andthe lower contact membersL 201 marked 0, 25, 50, to the pair of `contact members 201 that are closed by one of the lugs 201; thence,`by way of one of the conductors, some of which are indicated at 421, 423, 425 and 421, to the corresponding contact member 219; thence through the contact arm 211, and by Way of a conductor 433, to the contact arm 213 and oneL of the `conone `oilthe conductors, some of which are indicated at v41.3, 415, 411 and 419, to thatpair of contact members 206 that are closed by the other lug 201 and that are connected'to thesaid contact member 215; and thence through the lower contact members 206 below the said pair of closed'contact members 206, as viewed in Fig. 12, back to the other side of the battery 431. The closing of this circuit by the said closed pairs of contact members206 Yand 201 and the said contactmembers 215 and 219 at the end of a predetermined count of the counter, determined by the positions of the lugs 201, will effect the energization of the coil 221, thus rendering the circuit effective to actuate the cam 105, as before described, and thus stop the feed of the papers 2 out of the hopper 339 below the shield 11. kIt will be noted that the arms 213 and 211 can not, in themselves, effect this result; they must cooperate with the pairs of contact members 209 and 201 thathave previouslybeen closed by the lugs 201, and, at a predetermined point of their rotation, this they do by controlling those contact members 216 and 211 that vare connected into circuit with the said closed contact members 206 and 201. The circuit is under the control of a switch033., VTheselectorarms- 213 and 211 must be'-`reset to the starting "position as a new plate `2,00 is moved into place., This is eifected by mechanism nowto be described. y, n

At the completion of the count, `a wrapper-or label, with the'address thereon, is fed'V on thel staclr, or to 'some other suitable place, from the roll of paper' 261, by a single rotation of the feed roll 291 driven by' the shaft 321 '(Flgs.' 2 and 3).

This shaft 321, asnillustrated more particularlyin Fig. 2, drives also, through the medium of a chain 330, the shaft`223 of the selector that shifts the address plates`206. Pinned or otherwise fixed to the shaft 223 aregears 221, cut away at 415,

as shown more partlcularlyin Ii'igs.A 4 and-,5.

Two similar but'small'er gears 2,29, on the same shafts 211 and401 that respectivelyhold the contact arms 213 anci` 211, are alsocut away; as showninliigsniand5.` 'Y If .the arms 213 and 211 are not in the starting positions, the rotation of the gears 221 will bring them into mesh with the gears-229, and rotate them, against thefriction of the clutches 235,

until the rcut-away sections are brought into the position shown in Figs.`4and 5, when the gears 221 and 229 will no longer meshand the arms 213"and 211will`then have been brought to the starting positions.' V'The shaft 223 and the gears 221 will continue turning until returned to the positions shown in Figs. l4 and 5. In this position, the .gears 2 29 cannot meshwith the gears 221 when the counting begins. i

`The closingof thel stop-feed circuit is eifecte'd as follows: The vshaft 211 is driven from the coun'- terv 3'2'3,v which makes a 25thof' a revolution for each article counted. This serves to move the contact .arm 213 from one `contact/member 215 vto the next contact member 215 overy the circle of 25 contacts.` As the arm passesfrom the 24 contact member tothe 0 contact member 215, the contact arm 211 ismoved through the ,above- -describedintermittent gearing 1/Mthof a'revolu'-V tion fromone contact member 219 tothe next contact member 219.l When each arm 213or 211 is in engagement with the contact member 215 or 211 that is in circuit with Athe contact members 206 or 201 thathave been closed by the address plate 205the circuit through the stopfeed mechanism relay 221 is'closed, causing actuscribed friction clutches 235, the respective arms 213 or 211,r assuming thatthese do not already happen yto be in the starting positions. This also returns the intermittent gear 259 to its initial position, so that it will not turn the arm 211 until fthe 25th paper has been counted off.

In addition to the address` and other desired insignia. 'from the plate 205, two scales "(not shown) corresponding to the scales 409 and 411 on the plate 205, may be printed on the label, wrapper or tag that goes with the stack, along ation of the cam 105, yanci thus preventing the f ltion below the bottom thereof. As `these pro- Jectlons indicate, by their'position on the plate 205, the number of papers counted, theyA are utilized to print or otherwise make marksY on the label, wrapper or tag opposite the said scales (not shown) to indicate what quantity is contained in that group. j g

'The plates are initially stacked in the magazine 215. A cut-out 500 in the plate slides over a vertical slide 50|. "Ihis insures that no plate will be placed in the magazine in the reversed position. -y

A fork 303, oscillating about a pivot 30|, engages an anti-friction lug 305 to operate a slide 301 in ways 303. The slide 301 thusmoves the lowermost plate 205 from under the magazine 216 to a definite position underneath the backing plate 3|3, at the same time, moving the previous plate 205 into the receptacle 215, over a spring 3| 1. Inthis position ofthe plate 205'und'er the backing plate 3|3, the lugs 20| will be under the contact members indicated on the addresslplate. The plate remainsk in this position while the papers areV being counted oif and, at the same time, the name and Vaddress and other insignia are printed from the plateon to the wrapper label. Above the backing plate 3|3, a member 429 carries the wiring 3| 4 through a cover plate 3|5 In the guide-raising mechanism illustrated in Figs. 14, 15 and 16, the guides 55 are raised from the top ofthe stack of papers 09` by pivoting the arm 4| about the axis of the shaft 45| upon which the pulley 3| is mountedat one end of the arms 31. This may be effected in any desired way, as by fixing the arm 4| to a rsleeve that is rotatable about the shaft 45|. This sleeve may be rocked through the necessary 'arc by means of an` arm 44| that is also fixed to the sleeve. The arm 44| is disposed at the outer end o1' the pulley 3|, as shown more particularly in Fig. 16, so as not to interfere with the passage of the papers. The rocking of the arm-44| may be eii'ected in any desired manner, as by means of a horizontal movement of a vertically disposed link 443 engaging against a pin 431 on the arm 44|. The said horizontal movement of the link 443 may be produced by a bell-crank lever-444 that is connected to the lower end of the link 443 and that is rocked by a link 445 from a crank 441. An arm 449 that'is connected to the upper end of the link 443 cooperates with the bell-'crank lever 444 to keep the link 443 always vertically disposed in all of its positions; When the guides '55 are in the normal position, as shown in Fig.

14, the link 443 is not in Acontact with lthe pin 443 or, iorv that matter, with any part of the vertically moving vcarriage attached to the arms 31. The guides 55 aremaintained in this position by a springV 4|9 pullingvupon the arm 44| to cause avstop 435 on the arm 44| to engage thearms 31 to prevent further movement. To raise the guides 55 to the position shown in Fig. 15, the crank '441 is turned through a half revolution, thus rocking the bell-crank lever 444 and imparting a movement upward and to the left ofthe link 443. This link 443, inV turn, thus comes into contact 4with the pin 4,31, resulting in the upward swinging of the guides 55 away from the papers 83 on the stack.

Further modications will occur to persons as dened inl the appended claims.

What is claimed is: 1. Apparatus of the character described comprising a conveyor, means for feeding sheets to the conveyor in superposed relation, a wall in the path of travel of the sheets from the'feeding means to the conveyor for preventing the superposition vof more than a predetermined number of the sheets on the conveyor, a second wall in the path of travel of the sheets conveyed by the conveyor, the second wall being separated slightly from the conveyor to permit the conveyor to convey a predetermined number of the sheets on the conveyor through the'space of separation between the conveyor and the second wall, and means for blocking the said space to prevent the conveyor from conveying sheets through the said Space.

2. Apparatus ofthe character described cornprising al table on which sheets may be stacked, a conveyor for feeding the sheets to the table, a member maintained by gravity inl engagement with the topmost sheet of the stack and automatically raisable in opposition to the force exerted by gravity as the height of the stack increases, means connecting the portion oi' the conveyor that delivers the sheets to the table with the member to cause it tofbe raised with the member in opposition to the force exerted by gravity in accordance with` the height of the stack, a counterweight, a cord connecting the counterweight with the member and the said portion of the conveyor, means for`= stopping the feed of the sheets by `the conveyor-tothe table after a predetermined number of sheets has been tric circuit,"a plurality of selectively actuable I contact tmembers, and means operable at the end of a predetermined count of the counter and cooperative with the selectively actuable contant members forrendering the electric system ef fective to render the feeding meansineil'ective 'at the end of the feeding of apredetermined number of the sheets.

4. Apparatus of the character described comprising a hopper for receiving a plurality of "sheets,.a conveyorfat one end of the hopper against which the sheetsV in the, hopper are pressed, the hopper having a wall extending to very4r close to the conveyor, but with ya space near the lconveyor to permit the conveyor to conveyV a sheet or sheets from the vhopper to outside the .hoppen a counter for counting the sheets conveyed by the conveyor from the hopper through the said space to'outside the hopper, a normally ineffective electric system, a plurality of selectively actuable contact members, andv means operable at the end of a predetermined count of the counter and cooperative with the selectively actuable contact members to render the electric system effective to block the said 'space to prevent the sheets from' passing through v' the said space at the end of the conveying of a predetermined number of the sheets through the said space. i

5. Apparatus of, the character described comprising a hopper for receiving a plurality ci' sheets, va conveyor at one end of the hopper against which the sheets in lthe hopper are pressed, the hopper having a wall extending to very close to the conveyor, but with a space near the conveyor to permit the conveyor to convey'a sheet or sheets from the hopper to outside the' hopper, a counter for counting the sheets con- .veyed by the conveyor from the hopper through vthe said space to outside the hopper, a normally ineiIective electric system, a plurality 'of selectively actuable contact members, aplurality of contact members respectively cooperative with the selectively actuable contact members to render the electric system effective to block the said space to prevent the sheets from passing through the said space at the end of the conveying of a predetermined number of the said sheets through the said space, and means'controlled by the counter for controlling the secondnamed contact members.

6. Apparatus of the character described comprislng a hopper for receiving a plurality of sheets, a conveyor for conveying the sheets out of the hopper, means for counting the conveyed sheets, a contact member actuatedv by the counter, a plurality of cooperating contact members adapted to be engaged by the first-named contact member, a plurality of normally ineffective contact members equal in number to the cooperating contact members, one corresponding to each of the cooperating contact members, means for rendering the normally ineffective contact members selectively eiectivaand means controlled by the rst-named contact member upon its engagement with the contact member corresponding to the said normally ineil'ctive contact member for preventing the conveyor from further conveying the sheets out of the hoppery after a predetermined number of the sheets has been fed out of the hopper.

'1. Apparatus of the character described comprising a hopper for containing a plurality of sheets and havinga wall extending to very close to one end of the hopper, providing a space near the said end, a conveyor for conveying a sheet or sheets out of the hopper, through the said space, to outside the hopper, a counter for count-A ing the sheets conveyed by the conveyor from the hopper through the said space to outside the hopper, a normally ineffective electric system, a plurality of selectively actuable contact members, a plurality of contact members respectively cooperative with the selectively actuable contact members to render the electric system eiective to block the said space to prevent the sheets from passing through the said space at the end of the conveying of a predetermined numberof the said sheets through the said space, and means con- -the stack on the conveyor at any one time.

trolled by the counter for controllingthe second` named contact members.

s. Apparatus cf the character described ccm` prising a conveyor for conveying sheets from un'- der a stack of sheets resting atwise on the conveyor, meansiorfeeding sheets atwise to thek top of the stack of sheets on the conveyor, and y y means for preventing the accumulation of .more than a predetermined number of the sheets in the stack on the conveyor at'any one time.

'1.9. Apparatus ofthercharacter described comprising a belt conveyor for conveying sheets vfromf under asiaack of sheets restingatwise on the conveyor, a second conveyor for feeding ysheets to the top of the stack of sheets on the iirst-y named conveyor, and a wall in the path of travel of the sheets from the second conveyor to the belt conveyor for preventing the 'accumulation of more than a predetermined numbery of sheets in 10. Apparatus of the character described comprising a table on which sheets may be a conveyor for feeding thek sheets tothe table?` l a member maintained by gravity in vengagement with the topmost sheet o! th'e stack and auto`r matlcally raisable in opposition to the' force exerted by' gravity as the height of the ystack in-V creases, means connecting the portion o! the conveyor that delivers the sheets to the table with the member tocause it to be raised with the membervin opposition to the force exerted by gravity in accordancewith the height of the stack, means for stopping the feed oi the sheets by the conveyor to the table 4after a predeter- `with the topmost sheet o! the stack and automatically raisable in opposition to the force exf 4" creases, means connecting the portion of the .0-

erated by gravity.as the height of the stack inconveyor that delivers the -sheets to the table with the member 'to cause it to be raised withthe member in opposition to the forceI exerted by gravity in accordance with the height of the j stack, .means for stopping the feed of the sheets by the conveyor to the table after a 'predeter mined number of sheets has been fed by the ,con-V veyor to the table, means for independently raising and lowering the member and the said por-l 5 `tion ofthe conveyor, and means for turning the as f table between the raising and lowering movements of the member and the said portion of the conveyor and thereupon resuming the feed of .f

the sheets by the conveyor to the table.

oTIO E. 'I wom. l 

